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2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship Application

2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship Application: The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is now calling for applications for the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship Program.

The
Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young
African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies President Obama’s commitment to
invest in the future of Africa.

The first class of Mandela
Washington Fellows arrived in June 2014 for six weeks of intensive executive
leadership training, networking, and skills building, followed by a
PresidentialSummit in Washington, D.C. Through this initiative,
young African leaders are gaining the skills and connections they need to
accelerate their own career trajectories and contribute more robustly to strengthening
democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and
security in Africa. Selected Mandela Washington Fellows should be
prepared for an academically and professionally challenging program.

The
Fellowship is designed to encourage and foster the ingenuity, confidence,
passion, and commitment of the next generation of African leaders. It
offers young leaders an unparalleled opportunity to meet and share ideas with
some of America’s dedicated leaders from community organizers to the President
of the United States. The Mandela Washington Fellowship will challenge
preconceived ideas and open new horizons for those who embrace the experience.

Who
is eligible to apply?

Applicants
will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender,
religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender
identity. The Mandela Washington

Fellowship is open to young African leaders
who meet the following criteria:

Are
between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application submission, although
exceptional applicants younger than 25 will be considered.

Individuals
residing in Eritrea and Zimbabwe may not apply to the Public Management track.
Residents of Sudan may only apply for the Civic Leadership track.

The
U.S. Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all of the
information included in the application. In the event that there is a
discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will
immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.

Applications
not meeting the above technical eligibility requirements will not be forwarded
to the selection committee. If you do not meet the technical eligibility
requirements for this program, we invite you to visit exchanges.state.gov for
information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.

What
are the criteria for selection?

Selection
panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order
of importance):

A
proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business and
entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.

A
demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or
mentorship.

The
ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of
others.

Strong
social and communication skills.

An
energetic, positive attitude.

Demonstrated
knowledge, interest and professional experience in the sector/track selected.

A
commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to
benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.

Application
Information:

The
application will collect basic information and will include questions regarding
the applicant’s professional and academic experience, including educational
background; honors and awards received; extracurricular and volunteer
activities; and English language proficiency. We will also request a résumé
(with dated educational and professional background), and personal information
(name, address, phone, email, country of citizenship). Additional elements,
such as letters of recommendation or university transcripts, are OPTIONAL and
may supplement your application.

Selection
Process:

The
Mandela Washington Fellowship is conducted as a merit-based open competition.
After the deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by a selection
panel. Chosen semifinalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or
consulates in their home countries. If selected for an interview, applicants
must provide a copy of their passport (if available) or other government-issued
photo identification to verify eligibility.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Application Process Timeline

October
7, 2014- Application opens

November
5, 2014: Application deadline

January–February
2015: Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates

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